Liverpool Fans Cast Trent Alexander-Arnold Verdict After Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus

Liverpool supporters have had their say on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance following Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Juventus in the Club World Cup Round of 16. The 26-year-old made his long-awaited move to the Bernabeu this summer, much to the dismay of many Reds fans, after helping Liverpool clinch their record-equalling 20th English league crown.

Initially, it seemed the right-back – widely regarded as the best in the world – would leave his boyhood club on a free, slipping out the back door after nearly two decades at Anfield. But Los Blancos, eager to go deep in this summer’s Club World Cup, paid £10 million to snap him up before his contract expired to integrate him into Xabi Alonso’s squad early.

So far, it’s safe to say his journey has had a topsy-turvy start. Critics of his pointed to shaky defending on his debut, where Al-Hilal held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw, but he’s gradually begun to show his worth since, with his side winning their next three games on the trot. Doubts still linger, though perhaps that’s as much down to Liverpool fans quietly wishing for his downfall as it is to any inconsistencies he’s still trying to shake off.

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Spanish Media Cast Trent Alexander-Arnold Verdict After Real Madrid Debut

The former Liverpool defender played 65 minutes as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal.

Liverpool Fans Assess Trent’s Performance Against Juventus

A superb assist “masked a defensive disasterclass”

The biggest reservation anyone had about Trent moving to sunny Spain this summer was that, while he can produce moments of brilliance with his attacking and playmaking qualities, he also has just as many moments of madness when asked to do the traditional defensive duties of a full-back – something that could open him up to harsh scrutiny from the famously impatient Spanish press.

That concern, and the clear juxtaposition between the peaks and troughs of his game, seemed to play out in full view on Tuesday night. On the positive side, his influence in possession stood out, as he delivered a sublime assist for Gonzalo Garcia (watch Real Madrid’s only goal below), completed 90 per cent of his passes, registered two key passes, and created one big chance.

On the flip side, however, plenty of Liverpool fans were quick to point out his defensive frailties once again. Trent lost possession 15 times, was dribbled past twice (matching the total number of tackles he made), lost three of his five ground duels, and made no interceptions or clearances in his full 90-minute performance. As one X user remarked (watch some of Trent’s defensive mistakes below):

A second Liverpool supporter on X wrote: “I’m so, so glad we no longer have to pretend that Trent is good at defending,” while a third added: “Trent has world-class ability, but he really doesn’t have the physical profile to play right back anymore, does he? I’m quietly glad we’ve moved on.”

Meanwhile, a fourth X user concluded: “This is the sort of stuff us Liverpool fans had to witness all the time by the way, and we defended it, so you can’t say we haven’t seen enough to know what he’s like.”

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